Simple Cake Cups

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Pillsbury™. The opinions and text are all mine. #DoughboySurprise

Simple Cake Cups made with white cake colored to purple perfection and layered with delicious cream cheese frosting from the New Pillsbury™ Filled Pastry Bag. Topped with a beautiful, edible butterfly.

While doing my weekly grocery shopping at my neighborhood Meijer, I stumbled upon these Pastry Bags on the baking aisle. I immediately had an idea pop in my head for these gorgeous miniature layered cakes in a cup.  Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bag flavors include Vanilla, Chocolate and Cream Cheese. I happen to have a serious weakness for cream cheese frosting and I love that I can make a cake in a snap with the help of these Pastry Bags.

You can make this Cake Cup in any color you want. I had these cute edible butterflies laying around that I have been dying to use and this was my chance! I went with a vibrant violet coloring for the cake but get creative. Try blue, green, red, pink or keep it white. Garnish with sprinkles,  fresh fruit or whatever you happen to find at Meijer. These butterflies give my Cake Cups a little bit of a light, airy touch like perhaps I am holding on to this amazing weather we have been having here in Cincinnati lately.

Begin by baking your cake. I used a box cake today. Swap butter for the oil and milk for water and mix well. Have a favorite go-to recipe for white cake? That works too! Add the food coloring to desired amount. You will want to use a large pan for baking because we want thin cake layers. I used a 14.5 x 11 x 2. A jelly roll pan may also be used. Use nonstick spray on the pan and bake on 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Let the cake cool once you have removed it from the oven. I used some wine glasses today as my cups but jam mason jars or any glass with a straight side will work. Since my glasses have a slight curve, I used a round cookie cutter to get my cake cutouts. Just make sure the cookie cutter will fit into the glass being used. If you are using a glass with straight sides, you can use the glass as your cookie cutter for a perfect fit.

Some of the top or bottom of your cake may have some brown spots. You can easily remove these spots using a knife. Place your first layer of cake into each cup and start the frosting.

You will have some cake scraps left over but you don’t need to toss them into the garbage! Freeze them and use them in cake pops later on.

Decorate Your Cake Cups

Time for my favorite part! The decorating.

Remove your Pastry Bag from the box and remove the plastic towards the tip. This frosting comes with a star tip that works perfectly for rosette style frosted top but you can certainly frost however you please. Squeeze all the frosting towards the tip and begin in the center for a rosette design. Apply a light and continuous squeeze to the bag while you work all the way around the cake cutout finishing on the edges.

Continue to layer your Cake Cups with the frosting and cake cutouts until all are completed. Place your garnish or decorations on top and serve!

New Pillsbury Filled Pastry Bags will go beyond these Simple Cake Cups. I am dreaming up all the possibilities for my holiday baking that is fast approaching. Some spooky Halloween cupcakes, red velvet cake roll for Christmas, or to decorate a fun Thanksgiving cheesecake. Oh my!